Some Overwatch Fans Are Thrilled Loot Boxes Are Coming Back, Some Not So Much

Blizzard Entertainment laid out the roadmap for Overwatch 2's coming months yesterday, confirming a massive overhaul of the hero shooter. There was a lot to dig into, from perks and the incoming Stadium mode to plenty of cosmetics, but one notable piece of Overwatch history also returned: loot boxes.

Loot boxes are returning to Overwatch 2 with Season 15, and it's spurred some interesting discussion around whether that's a good thing or not. For those unfamiliar, these boxes are drops you can accrue over time, which will randomly spit out an Overwatch cosmetic at random once you open them.

Loot boxes were a core part of Overwatch 1's original monetization model and methods for doling out cosmetics, especially for those who would rather spend time than money. They had seasonal variants, great animations, and were a way to build up a modest portfolio of skins, poses, and highlight intros even if you weren't spending extra cash on Overwatch.

That said, loot boxes have also been a historic point of contention in the industry. Reports called them manipulative and exploitative, and some players found them — alongside similar microtransactons like gacha — addictive. As recently as last month, these forms of microtransactions were eliciting fines. Overwatch itself ditched the model years ago, shifting to a free-to-play, battle pass-driven model.

To those points, it's not surprising that the return of Overwatch's loot boxes will look a bit different from its previous iteration. For one, loot boxes are a free offering; Blizzard confirmed to IGN that you can acquire loot boxes through free means, like the battle pass' free track or weekly rewards, but you won't be able to buy them directly. Secondly, there are some relatively helpful mechanics for getting boxes and finding what you want. Game director Aaron Keller confirmed in an interview with Overwatch content creator Emongg that duplicate drops can be re-rolled, and other venues for boxes (like Discord and Twitch promos) will be available. Plus, it sounds like the team is dipping into past Overwatch cosmetics for box fodder, even adding things that aren't available in the current shop.

So with all that laid out, how is the Overwatch community responding to the return of loot boxes? Well, that's a little complicated. A celebratory post on the Overwatch X/Twitter account, below, has a mix of enthusiasm and jabs in the replies.

LOOT BOXES. ARE. BACK.